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Tanzania has taken a bold step in bridging language and technology by partnering with Almawave, an Italian company specializing in artificial intelligence (AI) language tools.
The collaboration focuses on developing advanced Kiswahili AI systems, ensuring the language is not left behind in the fast-paced digital era.
Kiswahili, a unifying language spoken by over 200 million people worldwide, holds cultural and economic significance in East and Central Africa. Despite its prominence, its integration into global AI platforms has been limited. Tanzania, the birthplace of Kiswahili, is leading efforts to change that.
Speaking to the Parliamentary Committee on Infrastructure on January 23, 2025, Dr. Nkundwe Mwasaga, Director General of the Tanzania ICT Commission, outlined the significance of the partnership. “This is a groundbreaking opportunity for Kiswahili. It’s not just about communication; it’s about creating a language-driven tool for innovation and economic transformation,” he said.
The project includes developing a Swahili Large Language Model (LLM) designed to integrate Kiswahili into AI systems worldwide. This initiative will help Tanzanians develop tools and applications in education, governance, and commerce, empowering industries to flourish with AI tailored to their native language.
Tanzania has consistently championed Kiswahili’s growth beyond its borders. Recognized as one of the African Union’s official languages and adopted as a working language by the United Nations in 2022, Kiswahili is steadily becoming a global medium for cultural exchange and business.
The Parliamentary Committee on Infrastructure expressed its full support for the initiative. Chairman Moshi Kakoso highlighted Kiswahili’s untapped economic potential. “We have always excelled as Kiswahili speakers, but other countries often gain more from its economic value. This partnership is a call to action for us to lead and make Kiswahili a driver of our digital economy,” he said.
Dr. Mwasaga also emphasized how this collaboration with Almawave sets a precedent for other African languages to join the digital revolution. “We are ensuring Kiswahili becomes a vital component of the global AI landscape,” he added.
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Experts agree that this move has transformative potential. Dr. Emmanuel Shila, a linguistics scholar from the University of Dar es Salaam, praised the initiative for securing Kiswahili’s place in the modern world. “This is more than technology. It’s about preserving our cultural heritage while opening doors for education and innovation,” he noted.
AI specialist Maria De Luca echoed similar sentiments, calling the collaboration “a model for merging cultural preservation with innovation.” She added, “Tanzania is setting an example for other nations, showing how indigenous languages can thrive in the digital age.”
The agreement between Tanzania and Almawave was signed during the Eighth Annual Tanzania ICT Conference (TAIC 2024) in Dar es Salaam, a fitting platform for such a transformative initiative.
